For the third year, the city has joined with private businesses to host several events mainly in Chinatown to celebrate the Chinese New Year, Jan. 26, heralding the Year of the Ox.

"Every year that we've done this, it gets better and it gets bigger," said Hannemann yesterday at a kickoff event at Honolulu Hale. "Chinatown is very important to this administration. We want to make it a vibrant center for arts and culture. Chinese New Year brings the Chinese community together in a way that whether or not you're Chinese, you feel Chinese."

Lion dancers and Chinese beauty queens attended yesterday's kickoff event in the courtyard of Honolulu Hale. When the drums started beating, Hannemann reached into his pocket and pulled out a $5 bill to feed the lion, a traditional Chinese gesture to bring good luck into the new year.

The monthlong Chinese New Year celebration is a part of Hannemann's plan to revitalize Chinatown. In the past there would be a scattering of Chinese New Year celebrations held by individual businesses. Hannemann has made an effort to consolidate the events.

» 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Night in Chinatown Festival on Maunakea Street for an all-day block party with food and arts and crafts booths, cultural demonstrations and Chinese lion and dragon dances

» 4 to 6 p.m., Night in Chinatown Parade beginning on Hotel Street at the state Capitol to Maunakea Street to feature beauty queens, kung fu martial artists and lion and dragon dance associations, including a performance by a 150-foot dragon. Free to the public. Call Gifford Chang at 306-4570 or Denton Chun at 497-2670, or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).